The Democratic League for Women's Rights (LDDF) urge you to support Maria Makrem who was recently attacked and threatened by the Moroccan security services.

The Democratic League for Women's Rights (LDDF) urge you to support Maria Makrem who was recently attacked and threatened by the Moroccan security services. LDDF is convinced that this attack it is a part of a wider campaign, by the security services, to suppress dissent and tighten control over freedom of expression.

Maria Makrem, a Moroccan journalist working on El-ayam
weekly newspaper, who covers and actively follows women’s issues in Morocco, was
physically attacked on 13 March 2003 after receiving a threatening telephone
call from someone claiming to be part of a system called "the king’s protector".
The person reminded her of how she dared to investigate a secret detention
centre in ‘Tamara’ city which is the Center of Moroccan’s Security Services.
Immediately after the call she was physically attacked by an unknown person.
This attack has since been followed by another telephone call that threatened
Maria with further attacks if she continues to write on issues of this nature.
In addition, the Moroccan security services have been listening to Maria's
telephone calls and intercepting faxes and Internet communication.

The
Moroccan women’s organisation, the Democratic League for Women’s Rights (LDDF)
which has been following the situation, is convinced that this attack it is a
part of a wider campaign, by the security services, to suppress dissent and to
tighten their control over freedom of expression.

Maria is respected and
well-known for her honest writing and investigative reports into the realities
of oppressed women and men's lives. Her only goal, in each case is revealing the
truth, despite all difficulties, pressure, and threats that accompany her work
as a journalist inside and outside of Morocco.

LDDF strongly condemns the
attack on Maria Makrem and asserts that the Moroccan state is responsible for
attacks on individuals and organisations by their security services. Therefore
LDDF calls upon all human rights, women’s and democratic political organizations
that struggle for individual and group’s rights, to mobilise themselves and
challenge these new attacks on freedom of expression.

LDDF - National
Secretariat

For more information about the case and solidarity action
needed you can contact LDDF, in French or Arabic on lddf@iam.net.maTel/Fax
+212-22-29-78-69